Quick Buying Guide

Diamond prices vary greatly as they depend on the combination of unique characteristics (4Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat). For best value, it's important to choose the combination that will reduce the price without having a negative impact on appearance.

Each shape has its own recommended balance of qualities that will give you the most bang for your buck. Princesses, for example, are brilliant cuts which means they mask color and inclusions quite well. If you go a bit down on the color and clarity scale, no one will know the difference, but your wallet. Below is a quick buying guide to give you an idea, but for more detailed explanation, please see the complete buying guides for the respective diamonds (links below).

Depth percentage for 0.22 carat
Princess
(3.33×3.33×2.4mm)

Depth percentage of Princess cut is the ratio of the total depth (measured from table to culet)
to its width. The total depth percentage of this diamond
is 72.1%, which is OK.
(Recommended depth percentage for Princesses is between 64% and
75%)

Depth percentage for princesses is calculated with the following formula:

Depth % = (total depth ÷ width) × 100

0.22 carat
Princess
(3.33×3.33×2.4mm) depth %:

Total depth: 2.4 mm
Width = 3.33 mm

Depth % = (2.4 ÷ 3.33 ) × 100 = 72.1%

Depth percentage for 0.29 carat
Princess
(3.65×3.65×2.63mm)

Depth percentage of Princess cut is the ratio of the total depth (measured from table to culet)
to its width. The total depth percentage of this diamond
is 72.1%, which is OK.
(Recommended depth percentage for Princesses is between 64% and
75%)

Depth percentage for princesses is calculated with the following formula:

Depth % = (total depth ÷ width) × 100

0.29 carat
Princess
(3.65×3.65×2.63mm) depth %:

Total depth: 2.63 mm
Width = 3.65 mm

Depth % = (2.63 ÷ 3.65 ) × 100 = 72.1%

About Depth Percentage

Depth percentage is one of the most important measurements as it plays a critical role in diamond's
appearance. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow, light leaks out, making
the stone less brilliant and fiery. Deep cuts also add hidden weight.

Diamonds that fall out of recommended depth range are generally less desirable
and usually best to be avoided.

Face-up size evaluation for 0.22 carat Princess
(3.33×3.33×2.4mm)

The face-up size of this 0.22 carat Princess
(3.33×3.33×2.4mm) is within the normal range for
0.22ct diamonds of this shape.
Compared to 0.22ct
Princess reference diamond (see below), this diamond is of adequate
size when viewed from the top. In short, all is OK, this diamond looks its weight.

The importance of face-up size

Diamonds are sold by weight (carats), but it's important to understand that
weight doesn't equally translate into physical size, especially spread. Two
diamonds of the same carat weight can vary greatly in spread, meaning that one
diamond can appear larger than the other, even though they weight exactly the same.

Proper face-up size should play an important role when buying a diamond.
When a diamond is set in a ring, your eyes will only see the face-up area,
so you should make sure it's of adequate size. Adequate size also indicates a good cut, meaning better light performance. You probably wouldn't want a poorly cut 0.22ct Princess that is less sparkly and faces up the same as a well-cut Princess of a smaller weight.

The bottom line:
A diamond must look its weight. This one does. Thumbs up.

0.22 carat Princess reference diamond

Since there are no specific ideal proportions defined for Princess cuts,
an estimation formula is used to calculate the Princess reference diamond.

Parameters:

Weight:

0.22ct

Depth:

72%

L/W ratio:

1

Calculated values:

Length:

3.33 mm

Width:

3.33 mm

Depth:

2.4 mm

Face-up area:

11.09 mm²

Note: Princess diamonds with face-up area of within 8% lower
and 12% higher than reference Princess diamond area
are considered to be of adequate face-up size.

Face-up size evaluation for 0.29 carat Princess
(3.65×3.65×2.63mm)

The face-up size of this 0.29 carat Princess
(3.65×3.65×2.63mm) is within the normal range for
0.29ct diamonds of this shape.
Compared to 0.29ct
Princess reference diamond (see below), this diamond is of adequate
size when viewed from the top. In short, all is OK, this diamond looks its weight.

The importance of face-up size

Diamonds are sold by weight (carats), but it's important to understand that
weight doesn't equally translate into physical size, especially spread. Two
diamonds of the same carat weight can vary greatly in spread, meaning that one
diamond can appear larger than the other, even though they weight exactly the same.

Proper face-up size should play an important role when buying a diamond.
When a diamond is set in a ring, your eyes will only see the face-up area,
so you should make sure it's of adequate size. Adequate size also indicates a good cut, meaning better light performance. You probably wouldn't want a poorly cut 0.29ct Princess that is less sparkly and faces up the same as a well-cut Princess of a smaller weight.

The bottom line:
A diamond must look its weight. This one does. Thumbs up.

0.29 carat Princess reference diamond

Since there are no specific ideal proportions defined for Princess cuts,
an estimation formula is used to calculate the Princess reference diamond.

Parameters:

Weight:

0.29ct

Depth:

72%

L/W ratio:

1

Calculated values:

Length:

3.65 mm

Width:

3.65 mm

Depth:

2.63 mm

Face-up area:

13.32 mm²

Note: Princess diamonds with face-up area of within 8% lower
and 12% higher than reference Princess diamond area
are considered to be of adequate face-up size.

Face-up Area per Carat

Face-up area per carat is calculated by dividing face-up area of the diamond with
its carat weight. It tells you how many square millimeters of the top surface area
a diamond is showing or would show for 1 carat weight. This can be useful when comparing stones
of similar weights as it tells you how much spread per carat you will get.

Note: Face-up size does not linearly grow with carat weight,
which means the heavier the stone, the smaller its face-up area per carat (e.g., 1ct stone will have
higher face-up area per carat than 2ct stone).

Face-up area per carat
for 0.22ct Princess (3.33×3.33×2.4mm):

Top surface area = 11.09 mm²Weight = 0.22ct

Face-up area per carat = 11.09 ÷ 0.22 =
50.41mm²/ct

Face-up area per carat
for 0.29ct Princess (3.65×3.65×2.63mm):

Top surface area = 13.32 mm²Weight = 0.29ct

Face-up area per carat = 13.32 ÷ 0.29 =
45.93mm²/ct

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